Stocking puller

ABSTRACT

A stocking puller comprises a U-shaped stocking support member adapted to receive the foot of a user therethrough. The inside of the stocking support member is provided with a double-sided adhesive layer whereby a stocking is securely retained on the support member. An elongate rod extends from the support member to a handle. By this means the stocking puller functions to pull a stocking over the foot and onto the leg of a user.

United States Patent [1 1 Wilson May 13, 1975 STOCKING PULLER [76] Inventor: Julia P. Wilson, 7319 lnwood Rd.,

Apt. 4, Dallas, Tex. 75209 [22] Filed: Nov. 12, 1973 21 Appl. No.: 414,641

[52] US. Cl. 223/111 [51] Int. Cl. A47j 51/06 [58] Field of Search 223/111, 112

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,985,970 5/1961 McCarthy 36/115 3,692,217 9/1972 Smith 3,727,812 4/1973 Weiss 223/111 FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS Norway 223/111 Primary Examiner-George l-I. Krizmanich Attorney, Agent, or F irmRichards, Harris & Medlock [57] ABSTRACT A stocking puller comprises a U-shaped stocking support member adapted to receive the foot of a user therethrough. The inside of the stocking support member is provided with a double-sided adhesive layer whereby a stocking is securely retained on the support member' An elongate rod extends from the support member to a handle. By this means the stocking puller functions to pull a stocking over the foot and onto the .leg of a user.

4 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures PMENIED MAY 3 BIBTS STOCKING PULLER BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to a stocking puller, and more particularly to a stocking puller which is comprised of a small number of relatively uncomplicated parts and is therefore extremely economical to manufacture.

A need for a stocking puller for use by aged persons, invalids, injured persons, etc. has long been recognized. For example, US. Pat. Nos. 2,796,207, 2,903,l70, 2,919,840, and 3,227,335 are illustrative'of the prior art. However, notwithstanding these and other attempts at providing a working stocking puller, a number of problems have remained unsolved. Perhaps the most important of these problems involves the fact that many prior art stocking pullers have utilized clamping devices or other parts which are relatively complicated to manufacture and therefore have been prohibitively expensive.

The present invention relates to a stocking puller which overcomes the foregoing and other problems long since associated with the prior art. In accordance with the broader aspects of the invention, a stocking puller includes a ,U-shaped stocking support member which is sized to receive the foot of a user therethrough. The support member is provided with an adhesive surface which functions to securely retain a stocking in engagement with the support member.

In accordance with more specific aspects of the invention, the adhesive layer extends around the interior of the U-shaped stocking support member and comprises a strip of double-sided pressure sensitive tape. The stocking support member is secured to an elongate rod, and a handle is secured to the end of the rod remote from the support member. The support member is secured to the rod by a bracket so as to better accommodate a stocking thereon. The device is utilized by securing a stocking on the support member in an opened condition, and then utilizing the handle and the rod to engage the stocking with the foot and to pull the stocking over the foot and onto the leg of the user.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS A more complete understanding of the invention may be had by referring to the following Detailed Description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying Drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is an illustration of the use of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a stocking puller incorporating the invention;

FIG. 3 is an end view of the stocking puller of FIG.

FIG. 4 is a side view of the stocking puller; and

FIG. 5 is a top view of the stocking puller.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION Referring now to the Drawings, and particularly to FIG. 2 thereof, there is shown a stocking puller incorporating the invention. The stocking puller 10 comprises a generally U-shaped stocking support member 12 which is dimensioned to receive the foot of the user inserted therethrough with ample clearance and yet is not so large so as to unduly stretch a stocking supported thereon. The stocking support member 12 is preferably of one piece construction and comprises a base 14 extending to curved side walls 16 which are separated by a gap 18.

The stocking support member 12 has mounted therein an adhesive layer 20. In accordance with the embodiment of the invention illustrated in the Drawings, the adhesive layer 20 extends around the interior periphery of the stocking support member. The adhesive layer 20 may comprise astrip of pressure sensitive tape of the type having adhesive material formed on both sides thereof. By this means the tape strip is adhesively secured to the stocking support member 12 and simultaneously provides an adhesive surface extending around the entire interior periphery of the stocking support member.

The stocking support member 12 is mounted on an elongate rod 22 and is affixed to one end thereof. The stocking support member 12 is preferably offset somewhat from the rod 22 by means of a bracket 24 which interconnects the base 14 of the support member 12 and the rod 22. This permits a stocking to be folded around the stocking support member 12 with a minimum of interference due to the connection of the support member to the rod 22.

A handle 26 is secured to the opposite end of the elongate rod 22 from the stocking support member 12. The rod 22 is dimensioned so as to place the handle 26 within reach of the user of the stocking puller 10. Moreover, the handle 26 is dimensioned so as to be conveniently grasped by the user. It will be understood that a handle of any desired shape may be utilized in the practice of the invention.

The use of the invention is illustrated in FIG. 1. A stocking S of any desired type is engaged with the stocking support member 12 and is folded around the stocking support member 12 in the manner shown. By means of the adhesive layer 20 the stocking is securely retained on the stocking support member 12. Frictional engagement of the stocking with the stocking support member and the inherent elasticity of most stockings also cause the stocking to be securely retained on the stocking support member 12.

After the stocking has been mounted on the stocking support member 12, the handle 26 and the elongate rod 22 of the stocking puller are manipulated to position the device for insertion of the foot of the user into the open stocking S and through the underlying stocking support member 12. The handle 26 and the rod 22 are then used to pull the stocking S over the foot and onto the leg of the user. After the stocking S is in place the stocking is disengaged from the stocking support member 12 and the stocking puller 10 is removed. This may be accomplished either by sliding the stocking support member 12 down the leg of the user or by flexing the sides 16 of the stocking support member 12 outwardly to open the gap 18 sufficiently to permit the stocking support member to be removed from the leg of the user.

After the stocking is in place, the stocking puller 10 may be utilized in a like manner to pull a stocking onto the other leg of the user. It will be understood that from time to time it is desirable to renew the adhesive layer 20 on the stocking support member 12. This is accomplished by merely removing the strip of tape comprising the spent adhesive layer and replacing it with a fresh strip of tape of the type comprising a pressure sensitive layer on both sides thereof.

The stocking puller is preferably formed from conventional materials of the type adapted for use in conjunction with mass production manufacturing techniques to maintain the manufacturing costs of the stocking puller as low as possible. For example, the entire stocking puller may be manufactured from one of the modern plastics which exhibit exceptional toughness, such as ABS or the like. The stocking puller may also be manufactured from various metals including aluminum and stainless steel. Finally, the various component parts of the stocking puller 10 may be formed from different materials each selected so as to lend desired characteristics to the particular component part, if desired.

From the foregoing, it will be understood that the present invention comprises a stocking puller incorporating numerous advantages over the prior art. Perhaps the most important advantage deriving from the use of the invention relates to the fact that in accordance therewith it is possible to manufacture a stocking puller considerably more economically than has been possible heretofore. Another advantage in the use of the invention relates to the fact that stocking pullers incorporating the invention include a stocking support member provided with an adhesive layer whereby a stocking is more positively secured to the support member than has been possible heretofore. Still another advantage in the use of the invention relates to the fact that stocking pullers incorporating the invention are exceptionally straightforward and easy to use.

Although preferred embodiments of the invention have been illustrated in the accompanying Drawings and described in the foregoing Detailed Description, it will be understood that the invention is not limited to the embodiments disclosed, but is capable of numerous 4 rearrangements, modifications, and substitutions of parts and elements without departing from the spirit of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. A stocking puller comprising:

a generally U-shaped resilient stocking support member adapted for the insertion of the foot of a user therethrough;

means forming an adhesive layer on the stocking support member for retaining an open stocking thereon;

an elongate rod having the stocking support member secured to one end thereof; and

,handle means secured to the opposite end of the elongate rod from the stocking support member;

said means forming an adhesive layer comprising a length of tape of the type having adhesive layers formed on both sides thereof with one of said layers being adhesively engaged with the stocking support member.

2. The stocking puller according to claim 1 wherein the length of tape extends around the interior periphery of the stocking support member.

3. The stocking puller according to claim 2 wherein the stocking support member comprises a base and walls curving outwardly from the base to a normally open gap extending between the distal ends of the walls, and wherein the stocking support member is secured to the elongate rod at the base thereof.

4. The stocking puller according to claim 3 further including a bracket interconnecting the elongate rod and the base of the stocking support member to facilitate engagement of a stocking with the stocking support member. 

1. A stocking puller comprising: a generally U-shaped resilient stocking support member adapted for the insertion of the foot of a user therethrough; means forming an adhesive layer on the stocking support member for retaining an open stocking thereon; an elongate rod having the stocking support member secured to one end thereof; and handle means secured to the opposite end of the elongate rod from the stocking support member; said means forming an adhesive layer comprising a length of tape of the type having adhesive layers formed on both sides thereof with one of said layers being adhesively engaged with the stocking support member.
 2. The stocking puller according to claim 1 wherein the length of tape extends around the interior periphery of the stocking support member.
 3. The stocking puller according to claim 2 wherein the stocking support member comprises a base and walls curving outwardly from the base to a normally open gap extending between the distal ends of the walls, and wherein the stocking support member is secured to the elongate rod at the base thereof.
 4. The stocking puller according to claim 3 further including a bracket interconnecting the elongate rod and the base of the stocking support member to facilitate engagement of a stocking with the stocking support member. 